Server and Units

1. A method comprising linking a plurality of units with a central server, operating a virtual game on said server, and offering purchasing options to users of said units to purchase virtual non-monetary assets for use in said virtual game; wherein at least some of the purchased non-monetary assets expire after a fixed time; at least some of the purchased non-monetary assets expire due to usage; at least a portion of a user score can be exchanged into virtual money for the purchase of non-monetary assets, thereby lowering the user score; and the user score and purchased non-monetary assets deteriorate at a predetermined rate while the user is offline.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said linking is carried out over a public network.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said public network is the Internet.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said unit is a digital television receiver.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said unit is a personal computer.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said virtual game is accessible at no charge to the user.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a user may virtually test a non-monetary asset prior to purchase.

8. A system comprising a central server, and a plurality of units linked to said server via a communication link, wherein a unit of said system includes purchasing means operable by a user to purchase virtual non-monetary assets for use by a user in a virtual game operating on said server; wherein the system is operable such that at least some of the purchased non-monetary assets will expire after a fixed time; at least some of the purchased non-monetary assets will expire due to usage; at least a portion of a user score can be exchanged into virtual money for the purchase of non-monetary assets, thereby lowering the user score; and the user score and purchased non-monetary assets deteriorate at a predetermined rate while the user is offline.

9. A system according to claim 8 , wherein said link is a public network.

10. A system according to claim 9 , wherein said public network is the Internet.

11. A system according to claim 8 , wherein said unit is a digital television receiver.

12. A system according to claim 8 , wherein said unit is a personal computer.

13. A system according to claim 8 wherein said purchasing means comprises a computer program.